“Hong Kong’s one-man answer to National Geographic”
South China Morning Post Magazine
Welcome to DocMartin
Packed with information, fabulous photos and videos, chiefly on wildlife, conservation, science and travel – especially in Hong Kong and across Asia.
Wildlife
Hong Kong Black Kites
As high-rises crowd both sides of Victoria Harbour, there is little wildlife in the heart of Hong Kong – so people can be surprised to look up and see large birds of prey gliding overhead. These…
Beidaihe Can Create Exciting Bird Reserve
[Based on speech I gave to audience inc leaders, at Beidaihe in May 2009] I first visited Beidaihe in spring 1985, as leader of an 8-member expedition studying bird migration. At the time, Beidaihe was almost unknown…
conservation
World’s Birds Akin to Canaries in Coalmine as Human Impacts Continue Apace
On 4 May 2022, the Annual Review of Environment and Resources published an advance version of a paper titled “State of the World’s Birds” by nine authors including Alex Lees, who was…
Fightback Needed as Science and Life Support System Under Attack
Growing up in the 1970s, I loved the outdoors and wildlife, and was highly impressed by the environmental movement, which to me seemed brimful of energy and optimism. “Save the…
science
Covid is airborne so ventilation and air filtration are important
Since early in the pandemic, I’ve been seeing scientists arguing Covid is airborne, even with hashtag #covidisairborne – including to counter notions it is spread by droplets [short range], which…
Long Covid – info and links indicating major impact
While deaths from Covid have proven most newsworthy, evidence is snowballing that Long Covid is also a serious issue, even affecting people in whom the disease initially appeared mild. Here,…
travel
Guangxi’s Volcano in the Sea – Weizhou; and Beihai, City with an Old Street
Though I’ve read on travel websites that Weizhou Island is volcanic, and seen maps showing a headland curling partway around the main bay, in the south, it’s only when on arriving…
Exploring Shanxi: temples, natural beauty and Pingyao, the Banking Centre that Died with a Dynasty
Though its setting is unusual – nestled in a forested ravine, deep within Shanxi province, Sheng Shou Temple mainly appears like many temple complexes I’ve visited in China. There are buildings…